Unofficial news and tips about Google

October 20, 2010

Google Docs Adds Drag-and-Drop Image Upload

Google Docs adds a feature that's already available in Gmail: you can now upload images using drag and drop. Open a new document and drag an image from your desktop or from a file manager. This feature only works in the latest versions of Firefox, Chrome and Safari because it requires HTML5's File API. Unfortunately, you can't upload multiple images and Google Docs doesn't show a placeholder image or a progress bar.

Speaking of uploading images, it's difficult to understand why Picasa Web Albums doesn't have a better way to upload images. An HTML5 uploader could add cool features like multiple file upload, progress bar, drag and drop upload. Even a Flash uploader would be much better. Right now, Picasa Web Albums uses an ActiveX control in Internet Explorer and recommends installing Picasa to upload images. If you don't use IE or Picasa, you have to upload one image at a time.

15 comments:

Picasa don't even have sub-folders to organize your pictures, so expecting a nice uploader is too much :-(I do not know how google think people will use the web for everything, including pictures, when some of their own apps are of low quality compared to others.

Picasa is waaaaaaaaaay behind in features compared to its competitors (even in basic ones as Iuri pointed out). I wish we'd see the same update cycles for Picasa as Google uses for Docs.The reason i care so much about Picasa is that it has so much potential and it's such a pity seeing it so buggy.

I agree with you guys. Google should invest more in Picasa like they do on other products but yeah i'd like to appreciate these new changes being made for Google Docs. I prefer it whenever i have to make a pdf slide i can access it from literally anywhere

I'm fairly certain they are putting all of their resources into Panoramio. Have you see the number of features added in the last few months? I wouldn't be surprised if it launches as the new Google Photos.

Panoramio has a simple goal and will never become a general-purpose photo sharing site. From Panoramio's help center:

"Panoramio is a community-powered site for exploring places through photography: cities, natural wonders, or anywhere you might go. Panoramio is a showcase for the talents of its contributors, a place to see the world, and a community where members determine the content.

Panoramio is different from other photo sharing sites because the photos illustrate places. As you browse Panoramio, notice that there aren't many photos of friends and family posing in front of places, or photos of interesting surfaces--Panoramio's all about seeing the world."

I use Linux and Google Chrome and I can upload up to 5 pictures at a time through the Picasa web interface without having Picasa installed on my computer. But most of the time I use the google commandline tool, with that I can upload an unlimited number of pictures at a time.

That's great, but why use extra tools when it shouldn't be necessary? Do you use some special software to upload 10 files from a folder in Gmail or Google Docs?

Multiple file upload doesn't mean showing separate input controls and clicking on the Browse button for each file you want to upload. It means that you can upload multiple files from a folder using a single control. That's what you can achieve using Flash, Java or HTML5.

Concerning uploading into Picasa. I use netbook uploading into Picasa. I use netbook and has no Picasa App installed on it.So some days ago I use GoogleCL to multiply files uploading.BTW, current version of GoogleCL's package for Windows cold be run out-of-zip, without Active Perl (or similar framework) installation.

Concerning uploading into Picasa.I use netbook and has no Picasa App installed on it.Recently I experinced a problem with IE to connect Picasa. So I have to use GoogleCL to multiply files uploading.BTW, current version of GoogleCL's package for Windows cold be run out-of-zip, without Active Perl (or similar framework) installation.